Gesine Heinrich composes songs in five languages: German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. Love songs as well as philosophical ballads which range from classic to pop, from jazz to chanson, from folk to film music. Her melodies will stay in your ears. Her sounds traveling not only Europe, but also North- and Southamerica. Schubert meets Tom Waits, Brecht falls in love with Broadway and after all you will hear passionate voices from Sicily and Chile. Strong lyrics. Big feelings. A powerful voice for many worlds on one planet. A voice that will touch you.

Great music is known for its ability to bring people together—even people of different cultures. German singer Gesine Heinrich tapped into this quality with her September 11 concert at the German House celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty between France and Germany. Ms. Heinrich performed songs in both French and German , drawing inspiration from both countries’ rich musical histories. The full audience at the German House enjoyed not only a remarkable musical talent, but also a vivid display of flourishing French-German cultural relations. In his introductory remarks, the German cultural attaché Jakob von Wagner applauded Gesine Heinrich for “strengthening the cultural bond between the two countries.”

After opening with some of her own love songs Ms. Heinrich was joined on stage by the pianist Mark Hartman. Together, they performed the Edith Piaf classic “Padam, padam,” conceived by the former Universum Film AG composer Norbert Glanzberg. Ms. Heinrich expertly made note of this very appropriate French-German connection. In keeping with the French-German theme, she then sang Wolf Biermann’s ode to Heinrich Heine’s Parisian tomb “Auf dem Friedhof am Montmartre” (In the cemetery at Montmartre). Next up was Barbara’s “Göttingen,” which summed up the night’s message of reconciliation with one beautiful line: “Mais les enfants ce sont les mêmes, à Paris ou à Göttingen” (But the children are the same, whether in Paris or in Göttingen).

Ms. Heinrich’s rounded off the set with a mesmerizing performance of the Brecht/Weill classic “The Mandelay Song” from the musical “Happy End.” It was a happy end, indeed, as the guests, including the Consul General of France, Mr. Bertrand Lortholary, gathered in the lobby for German pretzels and beer.

“Unique…

Highly expressive”. (Westfalenblatt)

“Her voice has the power and passion of Piaf, then again she reminds of Carla Bruni because of her romantic playfulness and finally she is a fighter like Gisela May was.” (NDR)

“A singing philosopher.” (NDR)

“The diva for all voice registers and for every mood.” (BNN)

“Not only does Gesine Heinrich sing her stories, she lives them.” (Acher-Bühler-Bote)

“Gesine Heinrich knows how to make use of the pliancy and adaptability of her voice in order to cast her multi-variant love song lyrics into touching relationship-scenarios about longing and loss, rapprochement and failure …” (BT)

“It´s worth listening to what Gesine Heinrich has to sing and to say to us about love‘s ambivalence and with what vocal and instrumental quality!..The multi-talented artist is equally adept at both the piano and the guitar.”(BT)